smith



July'3, 1928.

Q" J. H. SMITH HEAT BALANCE CONDENSER PLANT Filed Oct. 50, I926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J.H.5mitl\ INVENTOR WITNESSES BY Q I as l M {ATTORNEY July 3, 1928. 1,675,471

J. H. SMITH HEAT BALANCE CONDENSER PLANT Filed Oct. so, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 2 awa rug. 3. I

. BY QAM ATTORNEY July 3, 192a. 1,675,471

J. H. SMITH HEAT BALANCE CONDENSER PLANT Filed Oct'. 30, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 3, lilltti.

earns "'l'rt "l" E hit nd rarest cries.

JOHN H. SMITH, G13 Plitl'LAlJELPHIA, lENNS'EHQVANIA, .ttEtE-HGCNUHJ TO lWES'IIhl'GI-IOUSE ELECTRIC &; MAN'Ulil-rCTURING CUltVilANY, CGRPORATUJ'N 01L IFEENINSYLVANIA.

HEAT-BALAFBECE CONlDlllhl PLANT.

Application filed October 30, 1926. Serial No. 145,199.

My invention relates to power plant condensing equipment andfit has for its object to provide apparatus of this character which shall permit of improved thermodynainie performance, particulzn'ly where, for a given equipment, the ratio o't ntialtenp Water is relatively large.

ln power systems, where a part of the steam generated is used in process work, it is necessary to supply to the boilers makeup water sullicient to conu cnsate tor the amount of steam bled from the system. Such i'nalze-np water should, oil? course, be heated before entering the boilers and dissolved gases should be removed therefrom so far as is possible. Accordingly, therefore, I condense steamycxhausted trom the prime mover in part by a surtace condenser, the remaining condensation being effected by a jet condenser receiving condensed and non-condensed media from the surface cendcnser and which is supplied with makeup water as the condensin5; medium. way, the makeup water is heated, and the incidental rise in temperature pron'iotes separation of dissolved gases, the latter result being assistcdby suitable air removal apparatus. More specifically, therefore, my invention has for an object to provide, in connection with a system where a relatively large ratio of make-up water to motive steam is required, condensinpequipment including a surface condenser and a jet con-- denser arranged in series, the jet condenser being served. with make-up water as its condensing medium, whereby the make-up wa ter may be heated. A h ther object to provide suitable air ren'ioval apparatus in connection with the jet condenser to assure the removal oi air and non-condensable entrained or dissolved by the make-up water, separat on of such air and gases beinn assisted by the heating taking place in the jet condenser.

Referring to the drawings wherein l show the preferred physical. embodiments of my invention Fig. 1. is a transverse section ot a straight, down-flow, surface condensing unitoil? the divided Water box type einbodyiii'ig my invention;

l'n this Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a straight, down-flow, surface condensing unit of the non-divided water box type en'ibodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a. semiradial flow surface condensing unit oi the nondivided water box type embodying my invention Fig. 4 is a. transverse section of a radial flow type of surface condensing unit embodying my invention;

5 is an end elevation of a form of my invention similiar to Fig. 3, but showing; a different type of controlling means; ii

Fig. 6 is an end view shown somewhat diagrammatically of my invention and the improved means tor selectively removing air and non-condensable gases;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a surface condensing unit embodying my invention;

8 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of my control means;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view with parts re moved showinga surface condensing unit embodying; a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 10 is a section on the plane XX of Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 and '12 are further modifications of my control means, 11 showing the control means used in connection with a surge tank and adapted to regulate either the speed of the condenser feed pump or the discharge valve thereoil while Fig. 12 shows the control means adapted to operate a bypass valve.

In industrial plants where considerable steam supplied from a prime mover atter partial expansion :lior process work, or other wise, a like amount plus that lost through leakage must be introduced into the system in the form of boiler teed make-up.

In many industrial processes this boiler :feed makeup is a greater percentage ot the station boiler capacity than main unit steam converted into power, and in such cases the problem of? economic introduction ot the same into the system is presented. For instance. in such a plant the steam finally passing); to the main condenser may be 35,000 pounds, Whereas the normal boiler teed makemay bereadily removed.

up may be 100,000 pounds per hour. Accordingly it is an object of my present invention to provide such an arrangement of condensing apparatus that the relatively large amount of make-up feed Water may be heated and air and non-condensable gases In order to secure suitable heating and deaeration oi the feed water, I provide a surface condenser of such capacity that it does not eli'ect complete condensation but discharges uncondensed steam into a jet condenser, the latter receiving, as its cooling medium, the make-up water. In this way, the makeup water is heated; and the manner of its introduction and the step of heating, facilitate removal of a irand non-condensable gases by suit able apparatus.

In Fig. 1, I show a surface condensing element 10, of the straight, down-flow, divided water box type, having. a shell 11 and a steam inlet 12 adapted to be directly connected to the exhaust of. a prime mover, as, for; example, a turbine. The tube nest 13 preferably has a vertical lane 14; extending longitudinally through the nest and forming a direct passage from the inlet 12 to the condensate discharge opening 15 in the bottom of the shell.

As is well known by those skilled in this art, condensers are sometimes equipped with divided water boxes, which are usually so arranged that approximately half of the tubes of the nest may be cut out of the circulating, system for cleaning, repair, or the like, whileathe other tubes remain in service. The-water boxes of a condenser of this type i are ordinarily provided with similarly disposed partitions, which may be vertical, and

each Water box is provided with the necessary inlet or outlet connections so that there are in effect two separate and independent circulating systems in a. single shell and these systems may be in operation alternately, or simultaneously.

Obviously, where partitions occur in the Water boxes it is necessary to omit some tubes and to leave a blank space in the tube sheets opposite thepartitions and hence, to leave a relatively narrow through the tube nest. In Fig. 1, the space Within theshell is more eliiciently utilized by slightly enlarging such a steam lane, as the lane 14., and utilizing it for passing steam directly through the surface condenser.

Instead of the usual hotwell, I attach a,

jet condenser 16 to bottom of the shell, the mixing chamber 17 ofthe jet condenser being. in direct communication with nest of tubes 13 of the surface condensing element and being adaptedto receive condensate fromthe latter through the opening 15 in the bottom of the shell.

Disposed about the wall of the chamber 17 ,area: number of openings or nozzles 18 steam lane which are adapted to introduce into the mixing chamber 17 a. liuid from the compartment or passage 1?) encompassing the charm her. The passage 19 is adapted to be connected with some suitable vource of boiler teed make-up water through the connection 21 and valve :22. The cooling water iron: the surface condensim); element may be utilized for this purporii desired.

The lower walls of the chamber 17 converge in the form of a nozzle 23 within the enlarged portion or cylindrical chamber 21: of the condensate oiltake Air and vapors are vented from the chamber 24 through passages 27 leading from each side of the chamber 2 1- to the cooling compartments 28. The tubes enclosed within these compartments are isolated from the rest ol? the nest by any suitable means such as the longitudinally extending vertical wall members 29 and the plates 2,1 which are secured to the upper flanged ends of n'iembers 29 and to the shell at some convenient location just above the otl'take ports 32.

To prevent the accumulation of condensate in the compartments 28 a number oi openings 32 inclined u iwardly from the compartment side are located in the vertical Walls 29 adjacent the shell, thus [)I'UVhlllHI water sealed drains for the compartments it chamber 533 communicates with the chamber 24 at any convenient point below the nozzle 23 and contains a float ill carrying an actuating arm 88 adapted to actuate the valve 22 through a suitable relay. shown diagrammatically at 3'4, the latter being connected by a link 37 to the valve The operation of the device shown in Fi 1 is as follows: The exhaust steam enters through the inlet 12 and permeates through the nest where it partially condcnsiul condensate and non-condensed media pasning to the jet condenser 16. Boiler l eed ll'l:ll (-1l]) water passes throi'igh valve 9 to passage .10 from which it is sprayed into mixing chamber 17 by the nozzles 18. Steam also passes from the inlet 12 through the steam lane 1-idirectly to the mixing chamber 17 where condensation takes place and the mahc-up water is heated.

To insure the proper distrilnition oi loading, or condensing Gli' OllJ, the boiler 'leed make-up is controlled depending upon the demand. This is accomplished by mean: of the float 3 lacting through the relay 3'? to actuate the jet condenser injection valve either mechanically or electrically and thus reducing or increasing: injection \valer according to the demand.

Condensate is removed from the chamber 24 by any suitable means, for exan'iplc. by a pump 38.

In Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, I show my invention embodied in sirtace condensing units of dififerent types than that disclosed in Fig.

lllll llll 1; and in these figures the same reference characters have been used to indicate similar parts.

In Fig. 2, I showa non-divided water box type of straight, down-flow surface condenser in which the steam lane 14: shown in Fig. 1, is omitted and a more libera-lpitching of condenser tubes is employed to provide tor the passage of the proper amount of steam direct to thejet condenser. In this type, I also employ an isolated cooler section 28 for the air and noncondensable vapors; and, while I have shown only onesuch section, it will be obvious that two could be employed in the manner shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3, I show a semi-radial flow, nondivided water box type of surface condensing; element in which a stetim lane 14: is provided around one side of the tube nest. The cooler section for the air and vapors is not isolated completely from the rest of the nest, entrance means 81 being provided for the passage of air and rion-condensable gases directly from the surface condenser to the cooler section. i

In Fig. 4:,I show a radial flow type of surface condensing element, in which the nest of tubes 51 is eccentrically disposed with respect to the shell, and which has the usual air offtake 52 within the core of the nest, said oflt'take being protected by the rain plate The air and -vapors from the jet condenser are vented directly by conduit27 to the core of the tube nest 51 from whichthey are removed by the olttake 52.

have shown a described means responsive to the level of water in the jet condenser to control the inlet of makeup feed water to the condenser, such water serving in the latte f apparatus as cooling water, in Fig. 5, I show a series arrangement of surface and jet condensers wherein no control is exercised upon the circulating, water, any variationin demand for feed water being: taken care of by an overflow by-pass. view, I show the float mechanism, such as already described, connected to a valve 59 in the overflow discharge line 61. i In case of low demand for make-up feed water, a considerable,part of the water discharged from the condensate removal pump 38 may pass out through the overflow conduit 61,

the valve 59 being opened in response to the liquid level in the jet condenser to allow for this. With increase in demand for feed wateii', the valve 59 would be moved toward its seat and more water would be supplied to the boiler. In case of maximum denn-md for feed water, the valve 59 would be closed.

In. Fig. 6, I show an arrangement whereby the surface condenser may be shut down for cleaning and the jet condenser depended upon for full duty of condensation in the meantime. In this figure, in normal opera- In this tion, air and vapors are removed from the jet condenser through the conduit 62, the valve 63 being" closed and the valves 6% and 64- being open, said air and vapors going to the interior of the tube nest and from the latter they are removed through the conduit 65, valve 64- being open, to any suitable air removal means, such as an air ejector 66. \Vhen it is desired to shut down the surface condensing: element the valves (54 and Get are closed and the valve 63 is opened and the air is removed directly from the jet con-- denser to the air removal means 66. The circulatinn media for the surface condenser is then shut otl' so that the tubes may b cleaned, or otherwise repaired, without interferinp; with thel'low of steam through the surface condenser to the jet condenser.

Reduction of injection water will reduce the condensing effort oi the jet condenser and thus cause a drop in vacuum unless the surface condenser is arranged to etliect the additional condensation. On the other hand, increasing the injection of cooling water to the jet condenser makes possible greater condensing efl'ort by that condenser, thus reducing the demand upon the surface condenser. In the forms ot my inventioi'i already relerred to, I show controlling means only associated with the jet condenser, the purpose in general, being to control the rate ot supplying cooling water to the jet condenser in proportion to the liquid level existing in the lower portion of the jet condenser. While these arrangements make possible regulation of the condensing; eltort of the jet condenser in proportion to the demand for make'up 'lfeedfwater, neverthc less, it may be desirable to regulate the flow of circulating or cooling water in the surttace condenser. For example, if the rate of supplying cooling waterto the jet con-- denser is reduced, this immediately diminishes its condensing capacity, thereby result ing in possible failure of the installation to etl'ect complete condensation unless the sur face condenser n'lay e'll'ect additioinil condensation in proportionto the diminished capacity of the jet comlcnser. This is a matter of importance where considerable variation exists in. the requirements :lor process steam, it being; dc 'rable, oi? course, that the make-up teed ater shall be heated in the jet condenser; and, in order that the latter result may be achieved. it is necessary that the surface condenser shall. pass sutlicicnt steam to the jet comlcnser to effect the desired amount of heating of the make up feed. Water.

In Figs. 7 and 8,1 show arrangements whereby, not only is the supply of makeup feed water to the jet condenser varied in the manner heretofore pointed out, but also the float mechanism serves to control the rate of passage of circulating or cooling water llll through ithe surface. -.condensei-' in orderithat the dii ninished condensing capacity ofthe jet: con-denser may be compensated forby increased condensing capacityof-the surface condenser.- Iii-Fig. 7, Ii -show: afloat arrangementr.havin a float actuated relay 37. connected to a valve 22r by a link 37. as;

alreadyreferred to.: In this view, the link 37 isconn-eetedto one-cn-d of; a lever 69'- ftl lcllm' ififl at T0, the other end of the lever 69 being connected througha linkage mechanisrn-T 1 to acontroller 72 :ofit-he; motor 73 of the. circ dating pump :74;

ln -Figw ,"I'show amlifii .rentwvay of-cffech ing a dual'control. Inothis view, the-link 37 is con neetedjby a bell crank 75 to a link 76", which serves to operatethe valve 77 to control the passage O'iiZCiICUlELiTlDg or cooling watervfrom th'ercirculating pump to the condenser ln -Figsr'i'i-and. 8, thearrangements are such that H'Vttl'lfltlflllslll the; rate of-supplying make-up fe edzwater. to the jet-condenser is accompanied blyi-a reciprocal variation in the rate ofsupplying cooling; or condensing water tothesurface condenser, this being done in ordervthat any change in condensi g capacity of the jet condenser-may be conr pensated 'for by a change in condensing capacity of the surface condenser;

By-the arrangement shown inFigs. 9 and 10,-I-am able to obtain a relatively high mix:

ture temperature. Referring to Fig; 9 it will'be'noted that the condensate from the surface condenser-is removed through a conduit 78iand thatvwalls z'aprovidea seal against the flow of the main body of the con--.

densate of th'esurface condenser into the jet condenser. The condensate frornthe main condenser=and water discharged from the jet condenser enter a common conduit 80 and pass to a suitable removal pump.

' (kit:

I In Fig. 11..1 show a storage tank 820:!- the suction side of the'condensate removal pump. This tank 18 providedwmtlua float 83whielris connectedto the cooling water inlet valve of the jet condenserfor con-trolling the rate 'of' supplying cooling water to 1 the latter.

In Fig. 12, I show a-tank 84 on the discharge side-ofthe'condensate removal pump 38-.- The tank is prov1dcd w1th float control,

means similar to that shown oirFig. 11 and for the same purpose.

It will th'us be seen that I have produced a very efficient means for heating make-up feed water and one which is especially sidearlbe amount of steam is used for adapted for industrial plants where'a con- IJI'OUQSS'IVOY kn It will also lIQWJlJVlOHS to those skilled in the art that the same injection water may be circulated in both condensing:elements, the water flow to each being controlled auttnnatically (l(]')(*l]tllllf 1 upon turbine load and circulating: water temperature. My invention may also he employed-in central stations as :1 means of introducing total station boiler fccd makeup into any one of the main units and thus obviating the necessity of introducing this .boilermakeup, even in central station plants, in small amounts to the various niain condensingunits.

Nhile (I have shown my invention in sew eral forms, itwillfbe obvious to those skilled in-the-art that: it-is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, andI desire. therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a power system requiring); a relatively large quantity of boiler feed water. the combinationof a plurality of steam coir densers connected in series. one of said conclensers being of the contact type, and means forutilizing make-up feed water as a wool ing'mediinn in the contact condenser, whereby a relatively large quantity of heated water is made available for'boilcr feed purposes.

2.-Ina'power system requiring a rclatively large quantity of boiler feed water, the combination of a plurality of strain condensers connected in series. the condenser last in the series being; of the contacttype. and means for-utilizing n'iake-up feed water as a cooling medium in the contact coir denser,- whereby a relatively largrc quantity of. heated Water, consisting; of con'nniiurled condensate and make-up feed water, is made available for boiler feed purposes.

3. In a power system requiring; a relatively large quantity of boiler feed water. the combination of a plurality of steam c011.- densers connected in series, the condenser last inthe series being of the contact type. means for conveying make-up feed water as a cooling medium to the contact condenser. and means for removing comn'iinnled condensate and make-up feed water from the contact condenser, whereby a relatively large quantity of heated ater is made available for boiler feed purposes.

4. In a power system requiring; a rclatively large quantity of boiler feed water, the combination of a surface conden er for partially condensing a quantity of exhaust steam, a contact condenser for completing: the condensing process, and means for utilizing make-up feed water as a cooling me:

loo

ill)

use

dium in thecontact condenser, whereby a relatively large quantity of heated Water is made available for boiler feed purposes.

'5. In a power system requiring a relatively large quantity of boiler feed water, the combination of a surface condenser and a. contact condenser connected in series, means for conveying extraneous water as a cooling meduim to, the surface condenser, and means for conveying makeup feed water as a cooling medium to the contact condenser, whereby the jet condenser is utilized both as a heater and a condenser and whereby a relatively large quantity of heat ed water is made available for boiler feed purposes. i

6. in a power system reqiiiiring a relatively large quantity of boiler feed water, the combination ofa surface eondei'iser, a con tact condenser arranged to receive both condensate and uncoi'idensed steam discharged from the surface condenser, means for con veying make-up feed water a cooling medium to the jet condenser, and means for removing commingled condensate and heated make-up water from the jet condenser.

7. In a power system requiring a relatively large quantity of boiler feed water, the combination of a surface condenser, a jet condenser arranged to receive both c0ndensate and uncondensed steam from the surface condenser, means for utilizing make-up feed water as a cooling medium in the jet condenser, means for removing from the jet condenser commingled condensate and heated make-up water, and means for venting off air and non-condensable gases from both condensers.

8. ln a power system requiring a relatively large quantity of boiler feed water, the combination of a surface condenser, a jet condenser arranged toreceive both condensate and uncondensed steam from the surface condenser, means for utilizing make-up feed water as a cooling medium in the jet condenser, means for removing from the jet condenser commingled condensate and heated make-up water, and means located in one of the condensers for venting off air and non-condensable gases from both condensers.

9. In a power system requiring a relative ly large quantity of boiler feed water, the combination of a surface condenser, a jet condenser arranged to receive both condeir sate and uncondensed steam from the surface condenser, means for utilizing make-up feed water asa cooling medium in the jet condenser, means for removing from the jet condenser commingled condensate and heated make-up water, and means located in the surface condenser for venting off air and noncondensable gases from both condensers.

, 10. In a power system requiring a relati vely large quantity of boiler feed water, the

combination of a surface condenser, a jet condenser arranged to receive both condensate and uncondensed steam from the surface condenser, means for utilizing make-up feed water as a cooling medium in the jet condenser, means for removing from the jet condenser commingled condensate and heated makeup water, means for venting off air and non-eondensaliile gases from the jet condenser to the surface condenser, and outlet means for the air and non-condensable gases located in the surface condenser.

, ll. in a power system requiring a relatively large quantity of boiler feed water, the combination of a surface condenser, a jet condenser arranged to receive both condensate and uncondensed steam as well as air and ium-condensable gases from the surface condenser, means for utilizing make-up feed water as a cooling medium in the jet condenser, a chamber for cooling the air and non-condcnsable gases, and means for corn vcying air and non-condensable gases from the jet condenser to said cooling chamber.

12. In a power system requiring a relatively large quantity of boiler feed Water, the combination of a surface condenser, a jet condenser arranged to receive both condensate and uncondensed steam as well as air and non-coi'idensable gases from the surface condenser, means for utilizing make-up feed water as a cooling medium in the jet condenser, a chamber embodied in the surface condenser for cooling the air and non-condensable gases, means for conveying air and non-condensable gases from the jet condenser to said cooling chamber, and air and non-condensable gas outlet means provided in the chamber.

13. In a power system requiring a relatively large quantity of boiler feedwater, the combination of a plurality of steam condensers connected in series, one of said con densers being of the contact type, means for conveying make-up feed Water as a cooling medium to the jet condenser, and means responsive to the quantity of commingled condensate and heated makeup feed water for controlling the supply of cooling medium to the jet condenser.

14. In a power system requiring a relatively large quantity of boiler feed water,

the combination of a surface condenser and a jet condenser connected in series, means for conveying extraneous cooling water to the surface condenser, means for conveying maize-up feed water as a cooling medium to tively large quantity of boiler feed water,

the combination of a surface condenser and n jet condenser connected inseries, means for conveying extraneouscooling" Water to the: surface condenser, means for conveying nizike-upvfecd Water as a cooling mednun to j the i j et condenser, and means responsive to the quantity i of connningled condensate and heated feed water derived t'nomthe-jet condenser forcontrolling the supply ofcooling Water to the surface condenser and the supply of nia ke-up feed water :to the jet the quantity of connningledcondensate and heated feed Water-derived from the jet condenser *for controlling the relation of the hZtI-PlOllIlhOfCOGIingW21tGl"SU13p1ld to the suriqecsgevi face con denser with respect to the lmnount of. make-up teednvater supplied to the-jet condenser.

: l'i. Inn power system requiringn relatively largefquantity otboiler feed water,

, tl'1e: jetoondensen-nnd means responsive nponian increese in the quantity of coin mingled condensate and heated teed w nter derived from the :jet condenser "for increasing the supply of cooling-'- water to" llllG SIll face condenser and for diminishing"the supply' 0ffnntke-up wnteitothe jet condenscn and F vice versa.

In testimony --Whe1-e( f, have lwrcnnto siibscribedniy name this 30th day o'l l'leptel nher, 1926.

JOHN H. SMITH. 

